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The Power of Mixed Cohorts: Lessons from the Vanguard Network & the Future of leadership
- Jordann Bone
- 19 hours ago
- 2 min read
In June we officially launched the Level-Up™ Vanguard Network - a curated group of organizations committed to building better leaders and better workplaces. And wow… what a start!
Our kickoff wasn’t just a training meeting; it was a collision of perspectives. In our virtual metaverse, participants explored their DiSC® communication styles by moving their avatars into different corners of the space, sparking conversations filled with “aha” moments. From there, we dove deeper - unpacking how our natural communication styles show up in leadership, and how we can toggle to meet others where they are.
But beyond the content, something special happened. The group itself became the learning.
When Public and Private Meet: Closing the Gaps
We brought together leaders from both public and private organizations, and the value of that mix was immediate. Public sector leaders saw the speed and adaptability that private sector peers navigate daily. Private sector leaders gained insight into the complex stakeholder environments that public organizations manage. The result? A clearer understanding of the “why” behind each other’s decisions and the beginnings of more collaborative, innovative thinking.
Cross-Pollination: Innovation’s Best Friend
Ideas don’t just stay in their lane when you put leaders from different industries in the same room (or, in this case, virtual space). Strategies for team engagement in a healthcare setting suddenly looked fresh to someone in manufacturing. A financial services leader offered a new lens on problem-solving for a non-profit. This cross-pollination of ideas is where real innovation starts - it challenges assumptions and sparks solutions you can’t get by looking inward alone.
Breaking Down Communication Barriers
One of the most enlightening moments came when leaders from different tiers of their organizations shared where strategy and goals break down. Senior executives heard directly from mid-level leaders about what gets lost in translation. Future succession candidates got a front-row seat to the decision-making challenges at the top. That back-and-forth built not just empathy, but practical clarity on how to make communication more effective.
Learning Across Generations of Leadership
There’s a certain magic in watching leaders with decades of tenure learn from those just stepping onto the succession track - and vice versa. The veterans bring historical context and tested wisdom. The emerging leaders bring fresh perspectives, tech fluency, and a hunger to disrupt the status quo. Together, they shape something far stronger than either could on their own.
Human-Centred, Future-Ready
If there’s one takeaway from this launch, it’s this: Progressive leadership isn’t just about technology. It’s about human-centred learning, problem solving, and collaboration and then using technology as a multiplier. When people understand each other’s strengths, communication styles, and contexts, they work with technology and each other in a way that’s truly future-ready.
The Vanguard Network isn’t just a program. It’s a living, breathing laboratory for the future of leadership, where learning moves in every direction. And if our launch is any indication, the future of work is going to be less about silos and more about shared growth.
Here’s to building leaders who learn from each other - no matter where they come from!
